Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera still bothered by groin injury

Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera says that a groin injury that bothered him last season and required him to have sports hernia surgery is still giving him issues. 

Even though his overall power numbers are down, Cabrera still leads the major leagues with 75 RBI. Last season, Cabrera became the first player in major league history to reach 30 home runs and 90 RBI before the All-Star Break.

He ended up leading the American League in batting average (.348), on-base percentage (.442), slugging percentage (.636), and OPS (.1.078), winning the AL Most Valuable Player award for the second straight season.

"There are times when I feel good, but there are always muscles that are tightening, muscles that are not functioning properly,'' Cabrera said to USA Today. "It's part of the process. The same thing is happening to Justin Verlander, but the difference is he pitches every five days, so you don't see it as frequently.

Cabrera, a nine-time All-Star, has 14 home runs this season and has not gone deep since June 30.  Still, the Tigers enjoy a 6.5 game lead over the Kansas City Royals in the American League Central.

"But as he and I talked about, we're never going to offer any excuses for our performance," Cabrera said. "We always want to be out on the field and compete, and I think that's the most important thing we can do, compete and try to get past this tough time. And the main thing is we're in first place."

Cabrera signed a 10-year deal worth $292 million with the Tigers in March. 

-Scooby Axson